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Types of Glaucoma Surgery and Costs in New Jersey

Most people do not know exactly what glaucoma is. They may have heard plenty about it, but do not know enough. This term actually is not one condition, but a group of conditions. All of these conditions can lead to irreversible damage to the optic nerve. Increased pressure in the eye is a common symptom. High levels of intraocular pressure can damage the optic nerve when untreated. But, some forms of glaucoma actually have neutral or low levels of intraocular pressure. You will find glaucoma surgery cost in New Jersey depends on the type of this condition is present.

Open-angle glaucoma has no known source cause. It is a condition that seems to come on quite slowly. The damage to the optic nerve happens due to high levels of intraocular pressure. Certain families seem to have a high occurrence of this form of the condition. Doctors begin treating this condition by attempting to reduce the intraocular pressure. Special eye drops can help lower this pressure level. For most patients, these eye drops can do the trick. For some patients though, surgery may be the only option. Selective laser trabeculoplasty is one of the preferred surgical options for this form of glaucoma. Surgeons will open extra drainage holes to alleviate the pressure in the eye.

Acute, or closed-angle, glaucoma is a condition that can happen quite suddenly. The intraocular pressure builds up rapidly and can cause blindness quickly if left untreated. The special eye drops can help alleviate the condition quickly. Again, though, doctors may have to perform surgery in some patients. A common form of surgery for this type of glaucoma is the iridotomy. With this surgery, the surgeon uses a laser to open holes in the iris to alleviate built up pressure.

The two other forms of the condition come from known sources. The first, congenital glaucoma, happens in infants and toddlers between birth and three years old. The child's eye has a malformed drainage system. To provide a permanent solution to the problem, eye surgery is the preferred treatment. The two most common techniques used to treat this condition are goniotomy and trabeculotomy. The other form of the disease is secondary glaucoma. This term describes any form of the disease that happens due to a known cause. In the state of New Jersey, surgery done in an ambulatory surgery center costs run about $1,650. For a hospital, the costs go up to $6,500.